What Positek does

Positek is a UK-based manufacturer of non-contact inductive position sensors, operating as a division of Variohm Eurosensor Ltd within the publicly listed discoverIE Group PLC since October 2021. Founded in 1992 in Cheltenham, the company designs and manufactures linear, rotary, and tilt position sensors using its proprietary PIPS (Positek Inductive Position Sensing) technology, which employs variable inductive coils in a half-bridge configuration with custom integrated circuit signal processing. The product portfolio spans measurement ranges from 1mm to 800mm (linear), up to 160 degrees (rotary and tilt), with variants rated for submersible operation up to IP68 350 bar (3500 meters seawater) and ATEX/IECEx/CSA/UKEX-certified intrinsically safe operation in explosive atmospheres. Complementary offerings include pressure transducers, temperature probes, cable extension transducers, displays, and galvanically isolated amplifiers.

The business operates a B2B model selling custom and standard sensors to industrial OEM customers across aerospace, automotive, motorsport, oil & gas (subsea), marine/energy, industrial automation, medical, and battery manufacturing verticals. Pricing is quote-based with no public disclosure, reflecting custom specifications, ATEX certification requirements, and volume-based negotiation. Positek generates revenue through one-time hardware sales, with custom sensor design services offering lead times as short as 1-2 working days from its UK manufacturing facility. The company distributes globally through a network of authorized distributors covering North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific (Japan, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam, Korea, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore), supplemented by direct enterprise sales from UK headquarters and cross-selling via Variohm Group sister companies. Customer concentration risk is moderate due to diversified vertical exposure, though subsea oil & gas and aerospace segments carry inherent buyer-side concentration. The company holds ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications (recertified June 2026) and has received four UK Government innovation awards including a Smart Award that funded PIPS development.

Name

Positek

Legal name

Positek Limited

Website

https://positek.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Positek manufactures non-contact inductive position sensors (linear, rotary, tilt) using proprietary PIPS technology, serving industrial OEMs in aerospace, automotive, motorsport, subsea oil & gas, and marine markets. Operates as a division of Variohm Eurosensor within discoverIE Group PLC.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Cheltenham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Position Sensors (Linear, Rotary, Tilt): Core business generating revenue from manufacture and sale of non-contacting position sensors. Products include linear position sensors (cylinder, stand-alone, submersible variants), rotary position sensors, and tilt sensors. Revenue is one-time product sales with no recurring component.
2. Custom Position Sensors: Bespoke sensor design and manufacturing service for OEM customers requiring custom specifications. Turnaround times as short as 1-2 working days. Generates revenue through custom engineering and manufacturing.
3. Pressure Transducers: Sale of pressure transducers and transmitters sourced from sister company Variohm Eurosensor. Includes subsea pressure transmitters up to 5000 bar, industrial pressure sensors, and hydrogen-compatible designs.
4. Cable Extension Transducers: String pot/draw wire sensors for linear position measurement. Stroke lengths from 25mm up to 43 meters. Includes hazardous area certified versions.
5. Displays and Interfaces: Panel mounted displays and DIN rail mounted interfaces for signal conditioning and programmable display functionality.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Positek is a UK-based manufacturer and global supplier of non-contact inductive position sensors and displacement transducers. Its portfolio covers linear position sensors, rotary position sensors, tilt/inclinometer sensors, submersible sensors, and ATEX/IECEx-certified intrinsically safe variants, complemented by pressure transducers, temperature probes, cable extension transducers, displays, and galvanically isolated amplifiers. The company also designs and builds custom-engineered sensor solutions for industrial OEM customers with lead times as short as 1-2 working days.

Product overview

Positek is a manufacturer of industrial position sensors and transducers, operating as a division of Variohm Eurosensor Ltd within the discoverIE Group. The company's core offering is its proprietary PIPS® (Positek Inductive Position Sensing) technology, which encompasses three sensor categories: LIPS® for linear position sensing, RIPS® for rotary position sensing, and TIPS® for tilt/inclinometer applications. Positek's product portfolio spans linear position sensors (cylinder, stand-alone, submersible configurations with ranges up to 800mm), rotary position sensors (angular measurement up to 160°), tilt sensors, submersible/waterproof sensors (IP68 350 bar rated), and ATEX/IECEx intrinsically safe sensors for hazardous environments. Complementary products include pressure transducers, temperature probes, cable extension transducers, displays, galvanically isolated amplifiers, and drop-in replacement sensors. The company offers both standard products and custom sensor design services with rapid lead times as short as 1-2 working days.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Linear Position Sensors (LIPS) Linear position sensors using Positek's proprietary non-contact inductive technology for displacement measurement, available in cylinder, stand-alone, short-stroke, gauge head, and submersible configurations with measurement ranges from 1mm to 800mm and IP67 to IP68 sealing, including ATEX/IECEx intrinsically safe options. Target customers are OEMs in industrial automation, hydraulics, motorsport, aerospace, and process control.
• Rotary Position Sensors (RIPS) Angular position sensors using printed circuit board coil technology for non-contact rotary measurement up to 160 degrees, available in miniature, flat, large angle, and submersible variants including P500, P501, P502, P503, P510, and P530 series. Served markets include automotive throttle/steering, motorsport, industrial automation, and machinery controls.
• Tilt Sensors (TIPS) Inclinometers for measuring tilt position relative to gravity using inductive non-contact technology, with angle ranges from 15 to 160 degrees, IP67 to IP68 sealing, standard and submersible configurations, and ATEX/IECEx approvals for hazardous environments. Used in structural monitoring, vehicle platform levelling, and industrial equipment.
• Submersible, Waterproof Sensors Position sensors sealed to IP68 350 bar (3500MSW) for underwater and subsea applications, constructed of marine grade 316 stainless steel. Deployed in marine oil exploration, tidal generation systems, desalination plants, and oceanographic equipment.
• ATEX and IECEx Approved Intrinsically Safe Sensors Position sensors certified for use in potentially explosive gas, dust, and mining atmospheres, including ATEX, IECEx, CSA, UKEX, and ANZEx certified variants with galvanically isolated three-port amplifiers. Target markets include oil and gas, chemical processing, battery manufacturing, and other hazardous area industries.
• Custom Position Sensors Bespoke sensor design and manufacturing service offering customisation of standard sensors to OEM specifications, with lead times as short as 1-2 working days. Applications include subsea, automotive, aerospace, battery manufacturing, and hazardous environment requirements.
• Pressure Transducers Pressure sensors converting pressure into analogue or digital electrical signals, ranging from vacuum to 5000 bar, including absolute, gauge, and vacuum pressure types and EC79-approved hydrogen-compatible designs. Sourced from sister company Variohm Eurosensor and resold by Positek for industrial and subsea applications.
• Temperature Probes Temperature measurement probes available in NTC, RTD (PT100/PT1000), and thermocouple types with temperature ranges from -40°C to 230°C in various probe housing options. Targeted at industrial applications and complementary to Positek's position sensor portfolio.
• Cable Extension Transducers String pot / draw wire sensors for linear position measurement using an extendable cable and spring-loaded spool, with stroke lengths from 25mm up to 43 metres, IP67 to IP68 sealing, and hazardous area certified options. Used where long linear travel exceeds in-cylinder sensor capability.
• Displays Panel mounted and DIN rail mounted displays and interfaces for signal conditioning and programmable display functionality, including AC/DC voltmeters, ammeters, bargraph displays, digital data displays, frequency counters, integrators, linearizers, load cell indicators, process monitors, and thermometer displays.
• Galvanically Isolated Amplifiers Three-port amplifiers designed to supply Positek intrinsically safe sensors with nominal 5V and transmit buffered output to safe areas, available in X005 ATEX Approved and G005 CSA Approved variants for use in hazardous area installations.
• Drop-In Replacement Sensors Direct replacement sensors engineered to substitute existing sensors from other manufacturers without mechanical redesign, using Positek's non-contact inductive technology to deliver upgraded performance, extended sensor life, and lower maintenance for installed OEM systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• Standard linearity of 0.25% of full scale
• +3 more outcomes

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Variohm-Eurosensor LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2021As of October 1, 2021, the business, trade and assets of Positek were transferred to Variohm-Eurosensor Ltd. Positek now trades as a division of Variohm Eurosensor Ltd as part of the Variohm Group.
• discoverIE Group PLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPositek is part of the Variohm Group (05783452) which is part of discoverIE Group PLC (02008246), a publicly listed company on the London Stock Exchange.
• Phoenix AmericamajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS-based distributor for Positek sensors covering the North American market. Located at 4717 Clubview Dr., Fort Wayne, IN 46804. Contact: Kevin Harkless.
• Cyan Co LtdmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJapanese distributor for Positek products. Located at 1606 Mishimacho Chuuou-ku, Hamamatsushi 430-0853, Japan.
• Applied Measurement Pty LtdmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAustralian distributor covering the Australia and New Zealand markets. Located at Unit 5/27 Thornton Crescent, Mitcham, Victoria, 3132, Australia.
• Althen BV and Althen GmbHmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEuropean distributors covering Netherlands (Althen BV, Rijswijk) and Germany (Althen GmbH, Kelkheim). Specialized in sensors and controls distribution.
• Control Devices Group (Australia, China, NZ, SE Asia, Vietnam)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMulti-region distributor network covering Australia, New Zealand, China/Hong Kong SAR, Thailand/Laos/Myanmar, and Vietnam from offices in Sydney, Hong Kong, Auckland, Bangkok, and Ho Chi Minh City.
• Variohm EurosensormajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK-based sister company and distributor within the Variohm Group. Located at Williams' Barn, Tiffield Road, Towcester, Northamptonshire, NN12 6HP.
• Variohm DE (Heidelberg)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman sales office within the Variohm Group covering German-speaking markets. Located at Hans-Bunte Str. 8, 69123 Heidelberg.
• Pitch TechnologiesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrench distributor for Positek products. Website: positek.fr. Located at 66 avenue de Paris, 78550 Bazainville, France.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• MTS Sensors (Temposonics): MTS Sensors is the leading global manufacturer of magnetostrictive and LVDT linear position sensors for industrial applications. Positek positions itself as a non-contact inductive alternative to LVDT technology, putting the two companies in direct competition across linear, rotary, and hazardous-environment position sensing.
• Novotechnik: Novotechnik (part of the Sick group) specializes in rotary, linear, and tilt position sensors for industrial and automotive applications, with deep presence in harsh-environment and redundant-sensor markets. It is one of Positek's closest direct competitors in precision non-contact position sensing.
• Balluff: Balluff is a major industrial sensor manufacturer offering linear and rotary position sensors alongside a broader IO-Link and identification portfolio. It competes with Positek in factory automation and industrial OEM accounts while providing a much wider product set.
• ifm electronic: ifm electronic manufactures industrial position, inclination, and process sensors with strong distribution across Europe and North America. It overlaps with Positek on industrial linear/rotary/inclinometer sensors and is a frequent alternative in factory-automation bids.
• Pepperl+Fuchs: Pepperl+Fuchs is a leader in explosion-protected sensor technology and intrinsic safety, with ATEX/IECEx position and proximity sensors. Its intrinsically safe portfolio directly competes with Positek's certified sensor range in oil & gas, chemical, and mining applications.
• Turck: Turck manufactures inductive proximity sensors, linear position sensors, and rugged industrial I/O products with strong hazardous-area (ATEX/IECEx) approvals. It overlaps with Positek on non-contact industrial and explosion-proof sensing applications.

Broad incumbents

• SICK AG: SICK AG is a large German industrial sensor manufacturer with broad presence in factory, logistics, and process automation. While not focused exclusively on position sensors, it overlaps with Positek in linear/rotary sensing, hazardous area applications, and through its Novotechnik subsidiary.
• Honeywell Sensing & Productivity Solutions: Honeywell SPS offers a broad industrial sensor portfolio including linear and rotary position sensors used in aerospace, automotive, and harsh environments. It competes with Positek in higher-volume OEM programs where brand and global support matter.
• Sensata Technologies: Sensata manufactures sensors and sensor-rich solutions across pressure, position, and motion categories, including intrinsically safe and harsh-environment devices. It is a broad incumbent whose position and pressure lines intersect with Positek's portfolio in industrial and off-highway markets.
• TE Connectivity: TE Connectivity is a large sensor and connector manufacturer serving industrial, automotive, and aerospace customers. Its position-sensor and harsh-environment sensor lines place it in competitive overlap with Positek on OEM platform wins, particularly in automotive and motorsport.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/positekltd

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Positek